[VMars]

Okay, so I have started making a list of books I want on my future Kindle 2. So far I haven't seen much under 9.99 (that I want to read right away, I know I can get classics for less). I saw they had a biography of Einstein for 9.99 and then I checked the printed list price, which is 13.50 (give or take some cents). That's only three or four dollars difference. I'm hoping Amazon doesn't go out and raise all the prices right away.    That wouldn't be good. So in  your opinion, have you saved much with your Kindle? I do read a lot...

 

[CS]

In addition to cheaper Kindle book prices, we also save in other ways - the biggest being the freebies offered by Amazon, all of the free classics found on sites like feedbooks.com, and all of the free indy books available all over the net.

 

[pidgeon92]

It depends on the kind of book buyer you are.... As someone who gets most reading materials from the library, I can honestly say the Kindle is costing me plenty more.  If you like to buy hardcovers soon after they are available, the Kindle will no doubt be cheaper in the long run. If you buy used paperbacks, the Kindle is not a bargain.

 

[Tippy]

I have saved on books, but most of the books are not on the best sellers list.  If you have favorite authors on that best selling list, you are probably not going to save all that much.  Certainly not enough to warrant the cost of a Kindle --- but I don't think we buy our Kindles to save money.

Amazon has a lot of free books -- classics.  I am reading Ivanhoe right now and am finding it very enjoyable.  Last of the Mohicans is next.  

 

[LDB]

I've gotten at least a couple dozen free books, many of which I'd want to read and would buy if not too expensive so that's definite savings. I've also added many many books at no more than used paperback pricing ($4.50 or less). I believe there is a savings with a Kindle, the only question being how much. The bigger factor to me and many others is the convenience of carrying a full library of reading materials in a less than one pound package as well as never losing your place no matter how many you are reading concurrently.

 

[VMars]

That's true! Plus I will surely save on shipping... 

I don't read that many hardbacks and I don't usually buy books that have just come out on the bestseller list, I only have one or two book series that I follow. I think I will save in the long run. For me it's really a lot about instant gratification, if I see a book I want to read, I HATE waiting for it to arrive. I plan how to buy stuff around vacations! "If I order it now, it should be here by my vacation in two weeks..." LOL. No fun in that.

 

[Guest]

Of course, if you spend $360/year buying a new/upgraded Kindle, then you aren't saving a dime.

 

[VMars]

LOL. Nope. i can't afford to do that. My Kindle is going to have to last a while. At least til version 4. 

 

[JetJammer]

Depends on your reading habits of course, but it pays for me.  Although I mostly read paperbacks (with the occasional best seller hardback), I've always been one to buy them as soon as they hit the shelves.  A new release paperback is usually $6.99/$7.99, the equivalent kindle release usually somewhere between $4.40 and $6.20, so I figure I save anywhere from $1.00 - $2.00 per book ($5.00 - $15.00 for a hardback).  Considering I average reading a book a day (some of that free downloads and classics I probably would have had to purchase without the kindle), I still buy 250+ books a year.  If you throw in a few hardbacks, I easily save enough to pay for the kindle.  I could probably replace it every year and still easily break even.

 

[CS]

Of course, if you spend $360/year buying a new/upgraded Kindle, then you aren't saving a dime.

Just curious: Did you end up getting a K2? (I didn't. I'm happy with my K1 and the 16GB of memory I have with my SD card - something K2 doesn't offer.)

 

[robin.goodfellow]

I'm saving, for a number of fascinating reasons.

1.  There are several books that I know I'm going to buy every year because the books are new, including the new Sookie book, the new Anita book (I know.), the new Christopher Moore book, the new Stephanie Plum book.
2.  There are several books that I know I'm going to buy every year because I lent out my copy and it never came back, including Lamb by Christopher Moore (given away 27 copies so far.).
3.  There are several books that I would like to buy every year, because i have read my copy apart, including Fried Green Tomatoes, H2G2, and Fast Copy by Dan Jenkins (not yet on Kindle, but I'm hopeful).

I can buy all of these on the Kindle, have them with me all the time, not lose them, not lend them out, and they won't fall apart on me.  In addition, I don't have to go buy lumber or another shelving unit to store them.  I think I just realized that the decline in the economy is my fault.

 

[geko29]

In the 3.5 months I've had my Kindle, I've saved $339.89 total on the 48 books I've purchased, and $105.20 on the 14 books I've actually read completely.  Both of those figures are vs. the lowest price Amazon sold them in print at the time of purchase (paperback when available, hardcover otherwise).  My goal is to hit $359 in savings on read books before its first birthday (October 22nd, 2009).  I don't think that'll be a problem.

 

[Gertie Kindle]

I'm probably still spending about the same amount of money for books as when I bought used paperbacks.  Considering that I have also bought several classic compilations (complete Sherlock Holmes; 80 cents) for the price I paid for one used paperback, I think I'm way ahead of the game.

In the end, it doesn't matter how much I spend on Kindle books, as others have said, the benefits far outweigh the costs.

 

[Lizzy]

Im not saving anything cause about all i ever used to get were library books, but i get a few books a month from amazon now and tons of free books and its so nice not have to get on a bus to go to the library and back and the fact that i can get them in under a minute i still feel like im way ahead for some reason. 

 

[PraiseGod13]

I am WAY ahead in savings.  I do take advantage of the free book sites and freebies on Amazon..... and I'm checking the Bargain Books thread every day.  Just an example..... my son gave me an Amazon gift card for Christmas.  As of yesterday, I had spent exactly $14 of it and have purchased 25 books.  There are some great collections available right now on Amazon from great classic authors.  A month or so ago I added up the total of what I have spent on books and divided it by the number of books I currently have and my books averaged $1.84 each thanks to all of the free or bargain books I've obtained.  Granted, I don't splurge on many books in the $7-$9.99 range..... but it is possible to build a great Kindle "library" without spending a fortune.
    And..... I was a former library aficionado (have worked at several), but I'm saving $$ by no longer going to the library.  We live a good distance from the nearest library.... so a round trip to pick up a book(s) and then another to return it/them cost me $10-$12 in gas depending on the price of gas that week.... plus my time which was almost an hour each trip.  And in winter, I'm risking life and limb to get there.  There are still a very few books that I get from the library if I really want to read them but have no desire to own or re-read them again.  Otherwise.....  it's Kindle books for me!!

 

[Guest]

Just curious: Did you end up getting a K2? (I didn't. I'm happy with my K1 and the 16GB of memory I have with my SD card - something K2 doesn't offer.)

No. But we did buy a slightly used and heavily discounted K1 from someone who bought a K2 so we no longer have to share a Kindle.

 

[CS]

No. But we did buy a slightly used and heavily discounted K1 from someone who bought a K2 so we no longer have to share a Kindle.

Good move. The K1 is still an awesome piece of machinery. I'm very happy with mine, and have no plans to "upgrade."

We'll see what K3 has in store.

 

[Anju]

You will also find that with the kindle you might discover some new genres!  I am reading books by authors who are members of the kindleboards and enjoying very much.  Books that I never would have even thought about getting.  And if you check this thread often you will find free or low cost books that you will enjoy if you give them a chance.  I have saved money from buying and shipping books, in fact I have already paid for my kindle with my savings.  I will not buy a book for over $5, that being said, I have bought a couple at $9.99 - a couple of Bibles but didn't expect those to go down in value, but also got one for .99, so came out ahead.

Just be flexible!

 

[Mikuto]

It depends.

I'm buying a lot less random books from the library for 25 cents. But I'm actually READING the books I get rather than plopping them onto a shelf. Generally books are cheaper than they are in the brick and mortar bookstores, Contagious was 25 dollars in a bookstore, but 9.99 for the Kindle, but if you're like me you were mostly buying used books.

I have, however, downloaded far more free books than I have bought them, so in the long run it evens out.

I don't like measuring things by monetary value anyway...

 

[KindleKid]

I think you still end up saving money on the books, every little bit adds up.